Summary from Indonesia Outbreak tracking as at 30 September 2006
| Cases Discussed | Jun-06 | Jul-06 | Aug-06 | Sep-06 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died, no tests | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| Died, tested positive | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| Other tested positive | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Suspected symptoms | 4 | 2 | 48 | 42 | 96 |
| Tested negative | 0 | 6 | 25 | 10 | 41 |
| Totals | 10 | 14 | 82 | 59 | 165 |
(From WHO as at 28 Sep)
Total human cases worldwide 251, deaths 148 (2006 – 104 with 70 deaths)
(If you want the links to open in a new window, hold down the shift key and then click on the link)
Indonesia
Thailand
(Inner) Mongolia
India
Australia
New Zealand
European Community
United States of America
General
Link to news thread for 1 October (link News Reports for Oct 1st )
(Usual disclaimer about may not have captured everything. Feel free to add your own where omissions have occurred.)
Please note that I copy the links directly from the thread so if they don’t work you may need to re-visit the Thread.
From previous thread after Summary created above
Klatu – at 00:55 The Cat & the Dog was expected the Adaptor of the Flu Virus Burung Bandung.
02 Oktober 2006
Pikiran-Rakyat.com (Software translation from Indonesian)
- with the existence of the positive patient bird flu in Kel.
“Kebonwaru Kec.Batununggal the Bandung City, the Centre of the tropics Illness and the Infection (TDIC) the Airlangga University will take the cat specimen and the available dog in the Bandung City and the Handsome Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) Bandung.The two animals were expected as the adaptor of the bird flu virus, apart from the pig.
“Pengambilan the cat specimen will be done in wet market or the traditional markets and reconciliation hospitals, one of them RSHS that prepared gave izin,” said the Head of the Centre of the tropics Illness and the Infection (TDIC) the Airlangga University, Dr. drh.
C. A. Nidom, when being contacted via telephoned, on Sunday (1/10).But, the Managing Director RSHS Bandung, Dr. Cissy R. Sudjana the officer rejected this matter.
He did not feel he had given permission to any side to take the available cat specimen in RSHS. ”Gak knew, I gak could the written request for permission from anywhere.If gak with permission, yes, gak could. Moreover the cat that mana,” he said.
The research that has gone for the last two week, continued Nidom, was based on the cat fact to the virus adaptor through the poultry was infected that was eaten by him. Moreover, he had found the virus H5N1 on the cat body in several areas in Indonesia.
“Memang, was based on results of the research beforehand, just the proven pig could as the virus adaptor and afterwards spread him to manusia,” he said.
According to him, the cat and the dog became the animal that was expected strong at could become the virus adaptor H5N1 as in the case of the pig.
The bird flu virus, added he, could be spread through the other animal, that is the pig that has been proven in Tangerang, last year.
“Selama this often the distortion in the handling of the case of bird flu has happened because that was seen by only spreads of the poultry to manusia,” he said.The government he thought immediately did not follow up the discovery about the pig.”
(UK) Spreading our way? Bird Flu: What Is The Risk? Updated: 02:42, Monday October 02, 2006
As the migratory season begins, Sky News has learned that the risk of a deadly bird flu pandemic hitting Britain this winter is even higher than last year. In a series of exclusive reports, our correspondents and reporters have been looking into the threat that H5N1 poses to the UK.
Two migratory routes cut across the country and as the days get colder, the chances of infected birds arriving on our shores gets higher. Farmers are being urged to watch flocks carefully and even the public is being asked to remain vigilant.
Health Correspondent Thomas Moore explained that if the virus arrived in the country it could be in every British city within a fortnight. “And with no in-built immunity to such a new virus, it would be open season for the bug,” he said.
More at http://tinyurl.com/ope4c
comment
I hate this mixing up of ‘arrival of H5N1 in birds’ with ‘arrival of a pandemic in humans’
News Summary Helpers - apologies - please try again
About 10 days ago, two people offered to help with preparing the News Summaries and I have completely mislaid the details. As I will ‘be off the air’ for about 10 days starting 6 Oct, I would really like to get this task covered. (Changing work environments and computer systems.)
Would you mind terribly reminding me who you were so I can send you stuff.
Roche says Tamiflu in ample supply in U.S. [link http://tinyurl.com/q2pqw ]
Monday October 2, 1:58 AM EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roche said on Monday its influenza medication Tamiflu will be in ample supply during the 2006–2007 flu season in pharmacies across the United States, with more than double the stock available last season. [more]
http://tinyurl.com/zf9kh (Excerpt):
[In Poultry]
92% the West Javanese Territory was affected by Burung Flu
Bandung, (HOMEWORK).
- remained at two territories that in the West Javanese Province that still was avoided from the distribution of the virus H5N1 (Avian influenza/AI), namely Kab.
Ciamis and the Series City.
After the entry suspect bird flu from Kab.
Tasikmalaya, AZ, the deadly virus has become an epidemic in 23 kKota/kab.
(92%) in West Java.
“Bagi the densely-populated area like West Java, really was difficult monitored in a manner details of the spreading of this virus arrived at the corner.
But, was ascertained by us, the spreading of the virus not yet including the extraordinary incident.
However, the government of the centre has determined the case of bird flu as KLB National since September 19 2005 with SK Health Minister No. 1732/IX/2005,” said West Javanese Vice-Governor, Nu’man Abdul Justice, in the Satay Building, Street.
Diponegoro Bandung, on Sunday (1/10).
The Tufts Daily (Tufts University, Boston, MA) posted today an article: Pandemic flu soon? The Odds Seem to Worsen by David Dapice.
It contains a thoughtful consideration of what a pandemic threat may mean to universities and their students, repeating Nabarrro’s recent caution that we may be on “God given time.”
It also refers readers here, to Fluwiki2, in its last paragraph:
Pixie – at 09:26 It also refers readers here, to Fluwiki2, in its last paragraph
I wonder if that is why it seems to take longer to load a page. More traffic. I get the feeling its only going to increase. A lot.
By John Zarocostas THE WASHINGTON TIMES
GENEVA — After 18 months of stalling and repeated calls for cooperation by international health officials, China is expected to deliver a batch of animal virus samples of the lethal avian influenza virus H5N1, senior global health officials say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory in Atlanta expects the samples to arrive “in the coming days,” said Mike Purdue, head of a team that is studying how influenza moves from animals to humans on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO)…..
WHO first asked China to share the samples in the spring of 2005, after thousands of migratory birds died in the province of Qinghai. The 10 samples expected by the CDC are from Qinghai and other regions, Dr. Purdue said.
more…
India
Delhi dangerously close to dengue epidemic
New Delhi, October 1, 2006
Delhi is not in the grip of a dengue epidemic. But if the situation does not improve in another couple of days, it will be.
“If the spread of the outbreak is not contained by Tuesday, we will declare an epidemic,” said Delhi health minister Yoganand Shastri on Sunday even as the government constituted a special task force to assist the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in containing the disease, which has claimed 11 lives in the capital.
Comment Not exactly AI, but I am curious to see how WHO and India handle this ‘epidemic.’ They have HCWs getting sick here, too. I believe that this situation is another interesting bubble in our pandemic flu pot!
Hospital Doctor News
28/09/06
“The Government’s faith in its stockpile of antiviral drugs to combat pandemic flu has been criticised by public health experts at Hospital Doctor’s conference this week. Civil unrest could result from a public desperate to receive their share of the 14.6 million courses stockpiled if a pandemic were to strike within three years as predicted.
Prof John Oxford, professor of virology at Barts and the London NHS Trust, advised that antivirals should be given to the families of anyone diagnosed with pandemic flu, but with only enough for 25 per cent of the population it would be impossible. ‘This is a dilemma,’ he said.
Dr Hilary Pickles, director of public health for Hillingdon Primary Care Trust told delegates that ‘we are currently planning for an experiment in mass therapy, with little time for feedback on side effects’.
‘There are also uncertain delivery mechanisms, which risk violence and resentment because oseltamivir is seen as a wonder drug with not enough to go round,’ she said.”
I wonder if we could set up a thread where lurkers like me could sign in so we could know about how many of us there are and watch the ebb and flow of traffic here.
cel…click on the rainbow block on the left side bar..It will answer your questions.
Wow, thanks snowhound1. I obviously did not know that information existed. I am surprised at how popular this wiki is. I just noticed that this thread was the news thread. I won’t post here anymore unless I have some actual news. Sorry. Thanks for the info though. Much appreciated
comment klatu at 10:19, in the UK are they reserving any antivirals for essential workers-HCW, public utilities, firefighters, etc.? They only have enough for 25% of the population and are worried about running out by giving it to families of patients.
Regarding the situation in India, reported to be a Dengue outbreak. Would some of you experts weigh in on this? If dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, doesn’t the extensive presence of it in one particular hospital seem unbelievably coincidental? With some 18 HCW ill? Are we to believe that all those people connected to the hospital just happened to be around mosquitos, but not those in other hospitals, institutions,etc.? This doesn’t add up for me.
Thailand number update, notice the numbers slowly keep going up - Now the number is 20 cases awaiting test results.
as of Oct 1.
“There are 20 cases under investigate reported, of which waiting for laboratory result…..whose additional clinical information, and/or history of exposure to risk factors, and/or laboratory results are needed before any conclusion can be made. “
and “Cumulative number of patients under surveillance are 5,094 cases …has similar symptoms but who does not have a specimen which complies with the recommendation for laboratory testing for Influenza A/H5.”
The following is a really excellent article that many might want to make use of and share with their town officials and local press. It’s title points to a focus on schools and the Red Cross, but it really takes a much broader scope.
Kudos to the Cleburne Times-Review, Johnson County, TX, for this outstanting series and coverage:
Schools, Red Cross positioned to combat avian flu
Mayrose- I’m not a professional, but I also think that this deserves our attention. 18 HCW does not sound like dengue, plus 2 already died, a doctor and a medical student, and as far as I know the death rate of dengue is not that high. Also waiting for the professionals to weigh in on this, please!!
Klatu – at 10:19 wrote:
Pandemic plan ‘dilemma’ - within 3-years
Hospital Doctor News 28/09/06
“The Government’s faith in its stockpile of antiviral drugs to combat pandemic flu has been criticised by public health experts at Hospital Doctor’s conference this week. Civil unrest could result from a public desperate to receive their share of the 14.6 million courses stockpiled if a pandemic were to strike within three years as predicted.
“Here I am, a Uk GP MD, with access to info from UK DoH and other sources, and no-one has every stated…within ***** years. The general mood of doctors is that we are not kept abreast of planning, and what we do know is hopelessly inadequate.The authorities are praying for the best case scenario, and the good will of the staff.Unfortuately neither will be available.
‘’‘Some of the estimates from the doctors at that meeting was a worst case scenario, which was critised by some of the press and the DoH, but which are genuine estimates.( It just shows the planners how incompetent they may be) If this “within 3 years” has any basis, it is a closely guarded secret.’‘’ “
AnnieB at 01:22 (Posted by Klatu):
The Cat & the Dog was expected the Adaptor of the Flu Virus Burung Bandung
Some passages from the article:
“C. A. Nidom, when being contacted via telephoned, on Sunday (1/10). But, the Managing Director RSHS Bandung, Dr. Cissy R. Sudjana the officer rejected this matter”.
“He did not feel he had given permission to any side to take the available cat specimen in RSHS”.
[is this article saying that Nidom or the Dir. of RSHS will not give permission to test?]
[He’s saying the cat can only get it from eating infected chickens. Then this]:
Moreover, he had found the virus H5N1 on the cat body in several areas in Indonesia. [Sounds like they have been testing cats for a while?]
[Did we know this? It’s news to me]….. :
Memang, was based on results of the research beforehand, just the proven pig could as the virus adaptor and afterwards spread him to manusia,” he said.
According to him, the cat and the dog became the animal that was expected strong at could become the virus adaptor H5N1 as in the case of the pig.
The bird flu virus, added he, could be spread through the other animal, that is the pig that has been proven in Tangerang, last year.
speaking of mosquitos, and this may sound really silly to you all, but if a mosquito draws blood from an infected chicken, goat, dog, ect, and bites a human, can the bird flu be transmited in that manner? or is it just mammals that this is transmitted through?
Maryrose and worrywart:
I’m not a specialist in mosquito vectors but the mosquitoes that carry dengue stay close to where they’re hatched. In other words they don’t cruise county to county. It could be related to rainy season and mosquito control in that area. That said, I would think the hospital would be more vigilent in keeping inside and surrounding area mosquito free. So, there is something odd, but what, I can’t say.
Commonground: it is Dr. Nidom who wants to test the cats, and Dr. Cissy R. Sudjana of the RSHS Bandung who is saying “no.” Nidom thinks outside the box, and is always pushing TPTB to redefine their definitions, test more, etc. Nidom often meets such resistance.
Dr. Nidom believes that the evidence for pig infection, first discovered last year, should have been followed up on between then and now. He also believes that more inquiry should now be done into whether cats and dogs are carrying and transmitting H5N1. He seems to be saying that from his own work and observations, he believes that this may be happening. As a good scientist he is only calling for further studies. He is encountering resistance on this matter, as he has on many others.
20/02/2006 - 01:30:30 AM
“Here I am, a Uk GP MD, with access to info from UK DoH and other sources, and no-one has every stated…within ***** years. The general mood of doctors is that we are not kept abreast of planning, and what we do know is hopelessly inadequate. If this “within 3 years” has any basis, it is a closely guarded secret.” http://tinyurl.com/qkxt4
Published: 20/02/2006
24Dash.vcom
“A flu pandemic similar to the 1918 outbreak which killed 50 million people a year could be on its way to the UK following the discovery of the deadly H5N1 strain across the English Channel.
John Oxford, Professor of Virology at Barts, claims the likelihood of a human avian flu pandemic was “high and within a span of, say, 18-months.
The secret is not that closely guarded.
Pixie – at 13:49 wrote”
“Commonground: it is Dr. Nidom who wants to test the cats, and Dr. Cissy R. Sudjana of the RSHS Bandung who is saying “no.” Nidom thinks outside the box, and is always pushing TPTB to redefine their definitions, test more, etc…. As a good scientist he is only calling for further studies. He is encountering resistance on this matter, as he has on many others.”
Agreed. When scientists with a conscience, like Dr. Nidom decide to become whistle-blowers and expose themselves to a, world-of-pain ( been-there-done-that), you can conclude the situation has escalted, despite silence, misinformation and comforting noise from W.H.O.
Here is some information about dengue transmission. It is not spread by human to human contact.
From a U.S. website: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/dengue.htm
TRANSMISSION
“You can get dengue virus infections from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite infected humans, and later transmit infection to other people they bite. Two main species of mosquito, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, have been responsible for all cases of dengue transmitted in this country. Dengue is not contagious from person to person.”
There is also complete symtomology detailed at the website, of the three forms of dengue which are: classic, hemorrhagic, and the type with shock syndrome. The last two forms can be fatal.
Comment: Mayrose, Worrywart, Beehiver, et al. I am not a HCW however I am in public health, have working knowledge of vectorborne diseases, and have experience w/dengue. I agree with you all that we should keep an eye on this until it is resolved. The number of dead and infected HCW concerns me, this is not the regular profile of a dengue outbreak, but one never knows.. this could be a severe situation.
I recall reading somewhere that TPTB were checking the cooling system at that hospital in India. The thought was that perhaps it was a breeding ground for mosquitos.Makes sense, afterall, many Legionaires Disease patients have gotten it the same way.(cooling towers, not mosquitos)
Sorry, don`t remember where exactly I read this.
This is not H5N1 but it gives you an idea of the “noise” that may cover a “signal” in Africa.
pneumonic plague in Congo
“A deadly epidemic feared to be pneumonic plague has broken out in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. There are dozens of suspect cases and up to 20 deaths in the outbreak, which a WHO team is investigating along with health ministry officials, WHO plague expert Eric Bertherat said. “There is an epidemic which we are trying to confirm is the plague in the northeast Ituri region,” said Bertherat. Preliminary indications point to pneumonic plague, the most deadly and least common form of the disease, which can be spread by humans without involvement of fleas, he said. “It seems it could be the pneumonic form, which is extremely contagious with a high mortality rate of about 50 percent…At least several dozen cases are reported and up to 20 fatalities,” Bertherat said. The outbreak is around Isiro, northeast of the eastern city of Kisangani in the remote, mineral-rich Ituri region. In early 2005, 150 cases of plague were confirmed in Zobia, north of Kisangani, half of them fatal, according to the WHO. Many of the miners working at the diamond mine in Zobia fled the outbreak and spread the highly contagious disease.”
Pixie & Klatu, thanks for taking the time to help me understand. Much appreciated!
Bird flu outbreak in north China under control, no human infection reported
www.chinaview.cn 2006–10–02 23:37:12
BAOTOU, Inner Mongolia, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) — An outbreak of bird flu in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region last week has been put under control and no human infection was reported, according to the regional government.
As of zero hour of Oct. 2, no new deaths of poultry and no human case of bird flu were reported, a regional government spokesman said on Monday.
<snip> Zhang Shaolin, owner of the farm, and his wife bought some 5,400 chickens and ducks from Aug. 21 to Sept. 20 from other places of the county. The couple found more than 70 chickens and ducks dead in the evening of Sept. 20.
Dead chickens and ducks were also found in the following days and the death toll rose to 985 as of Sept. 27 when the couple reported the case to the veterinarian station of Baotou city.
<snip> To date, 17,616 chickens and ducks have been culled to control the outbreak.
A batch of bird flu vaccines allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture reached Baotou early Monday morning. All poultry in Jiuyuan District will be inoculated in the coming 10 days.
Investigation is being conducted to find where did Zhang bought these chickens and ducks and where did he sold the poultry.
THAILAND — Disease screening controls to be doubled at airport http://tinyurl.com/qx6tz
The ministry said by the New Year it would double the number of disease-control officers at the airport from 16 to 32. The number of doctors posted to the airport would increase to three, according to Disease Control Department director-general Dr Thawat Suntrajarn.
Five additional thermoscanners would be installed at entry points. The scanners check passengers for unusually high temperatures or fevers - indicators of possible infections like bird flu or Sars,
As well as bird flu, yellow fever was a major health concern for disease control units at the airport, he added.
There had been no reported case in Thailand yet and Apichart said it would be “catastrophic” if a carrier was allowed to slip in.
Comment - Considering that for BF the incubation period without a fever can last several days, these precautions are almost useless. What would be the secondary gain from such a measure, if the first is to “reassure” the masses that the Govt is doing all it can??? - I’ll let your imagination answer that one…
Good night for now, it is late where I dwell.
This is an excerpt from an article posted by Pugmom at 17:25 in the Indo. Outbreak thread. Toggletexed, it takes up 3 single spaced pages of info. We had 4 new cases in W. Java today. Below is some info I took from the article on the authorities in W. Java today, as this news was breaking out.
“After being in a meeting in Dinkes West Java, the reporter that for a long time has been waiting, disappointed because the press conference that was promised, failed to be carried out.
Plh.
Pengendalian Breakingprep Penyakit Bersumber Binatang Depkes Director, Hardiman, and the official Balitbangkes was not prepared to be interviewed.
Moreover, the two officials apparently avoided the reporter.
According to Fatimah Resmiati, the meeting concluded the shortage of the awareness of the community towards bird flu.
Therefore, to prevent the pandemic, will be formed the regional Commission of the Control of Bird Flu (Komda Bird Flu) in West Java.
The Komda task, according to him, especially was menyosialisasikan the problem of bird flu.
It was related that the news beforehand concerning the assumption against the dog and the cat that could become the adaptor of the bird flu virus that at this time was researched, the Chairman Tropical Disease Centre the Airlangga University regretted the action of RSHS Bandung that cancelled taking permission of the sample of the cat from RSHS Bandung.
“In fact, we have pocketed permission was written,” said the Chairman TDC the Airlangga University, Dr. drh.
C. A. Nidom, M. S., overnight.
He sent proof was written by giving of permission from RSHS Bandung the number 2328/D1.
8–32/DL. 02.02/IX/2006 dated September 1 2006 that was signed by Director SDM and Education, Dr. Nanang W. Astarto, Sp.
O. G (K), the MARCH.
Concerning the cancellation of taking permission of the sample of the cat, Dr. Cissy said, necessarily the researcher’s side handed first over the research proposal.
A “week also already could, if having his proposal,” said Dr. Cissy.(A-156)
http://tinyurl.com/mhazc
Article concerning dengue fever, but one death and a second in intensive care in a relatively small number of dengue cases. enza, with your experience with dengue, could you comment to this issue. This outbreak is in West Java and the article is in a Bandung newspaper. Of course the question is whether bird flu is being misdiagnosed as dengue in some of the cases where birds in the area have not been dying? We can’t know, but the cats, dogs, pigs vector issue raises its ugly head and makes one wonder.
RSUD Cianjur Again received the Patient DBD Critical Cianjur, (HOMEWORK).
- Other the patient that it was suspected was affected by the attack of the illness of dengue fever dengue fever (DBD) with the critical condition was treated in IGD RSUD Cianjur, on Tuesday (2/10). This time the patient that arrived in IGD approximately Strike 11. 30 WIB, Alvernia Robidian (7), the citizen of the Valley of Village pearls Kopo the Maleber Village, Kec. Karangtengah Kab. Cianjur. The patient was forced to be brought to RSUD because of the condition for his health continued to worsen. Hadi Alkhusaery, parents of the patient, said initially him did not know if his child was affected by the attack DBD. Just learned Alvernia was affected by DBD after his child was brought to RSUD Cianjur. When his child was examined by the close practice doctor of his house, results pemeriksanan mentioned his child was affected by the typhus illness and must undergo the blood inspection. At that point, Hadi admitted to be able to be strange because in the mouth part and the child’s nose him issued blood. “At that time I was startled and frightened, initially thought my child was affected by bird flu that at this time was middle busy was reported by the mass media,” he revealed.
The condition kritis
The medical official RSUD Cianjur, Heri Hoerul Fine said, the condition for the health of the patient till yesterday afternoon still was critical. From results of the temporary diagnosis, the patient it was suspected was affected by the illness attack DBD. “from the sign was sick that was experienced by the patient, he was expected be hit by DBD. At This Time the doctor was still handling the patient, hopefully could remain and his health improved,” he said. Beforehand, late last week, two patients DBD that the critical condition entered IGD RSUD Cianjur, one among them Ai Peace (14) his life was not helped. Whereas one patient more, Siti Robiah (12) began to improve. Therefore in time extension for the last ten days, has had 9 patients who it was suspected were affected by DBD that entered the maintenance of RSUD Cianjur and one person died. Now a week beforehand, six children were expected suffered was sick as a result of the DBD attack could undergo the maintenance in space aromanis. However the six children gradually currently recovered and was permitted to come home. In relation to the existence of this incident, the Kab Health Service. Cianjur did not yet appoint the status of the DBD attack in several areas to enter the category of the extraordinary incident (KLB).
<snip>
Sep.29,2006
Leading avian influenza scientists from around the world say more research is needed to understand the H5N1 bird flu virus to be able to effectively diagnose and treat the disease. That’s the conclusion of scientists attending a two-day World Health Organization (WHO) meeting to review what steps need to be taken to prevent the virus from becoming easily transmissible among humans .
The avian flu experts agree, better diagnostic tests must be developed to identify those people who are carrying the H5N1 virus, but do not show symptoms. They note the virus is not stable and keeps changing its form.
The head of WHO’s Animal and Human Influenza Program, Mike Perdue, says the same is true for anti-viral drugs. He says hospital and clinical studies have discovered some resistance to the two primary anti-viral drugs used to treat human cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. These are Tamiflu and Amantadine.
“So, there is an urgent need to look at other anti-viral avenues, either different ways of delivering current drugs, or new variations on the drugs that are available,” said Perdue.
In most cases, Perdue says, Tamiflu continues to save lives, but he notes the drug must be used very early in the infection to be effective.
Bird flu is taking a huge economic toll. Some 230 million birds have been destroyed to prevent the disease from spreading among poultry, and to limit human exposure. In the first 18 months of the pandemic, between 2003 and 2004, WHO reports, the global agriculture sector lost more than $10 billion. Those most affected are small farmers, who have had their livelihoods wiped out.” - excerpt
September 17 2006
CNN.Money.com
“David Nabarro, the WHO’s avian flu coordinator, said one only had to look at the resurgence of bird flu in Thailand and Laos in past months to understand the risks posed by H5N1.
“The only difference between now and six months ago is not that the problem doesn’t exist, it is perhaps headline writers have got used to it,” he told reporters when asked if bird flu had turned into the Y2K of the viral world. Fears of mass computer breakdowns due to glitches associated with Y2K, the turn of the millennium in 2000, proved unfounded.
Nabarro expressed satisfaction at the way governments around the world had responded to bird flu and that country-specific programs were well under way in most, creating confidence for donors that their money would be well spent.
At a donors’ conference in Beijing in January, nearly $1.9 billion was pledged. So far about $1.2 billion had been committed for projects and over $300 million disbursed as loans or grants.
Nabarro agreed there was a shortage of funds but it was crucial to focus on the fact that “we now have got in countries good ways of spending resources so we get results.
In the United States, Congress recently appropriated $3.3 billion for fiscal year 2006 for pandemic preparations, with funds going to GlaxoSmithKline (Charts), Novartis (Charts) and MedImmune (Charts).
Roche, the Swiss drug giant, produces Tamiflu, the only anti-viral on the market that is used to treat bird flu. Demands for the company’s drug have outstripped supply and Roche has collaborated with other companies to ramp up manufacturing capacity. French drug giant Sanofi-Aventis (Charts) is considered a lead company in developing a bird flu vaccine, and has also been awarded with U.S. government contracts. - excerpt
For people trying to get Tamiflu for kids try taking this article with you. Please note how soon the child needs to take it.
Tamiflu prevents pneumonia in kids, study finds Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:22pm ET
Global Coverage New drug boosts bird flu survival in animals Low-risk bird flu found in Ill. wild ducks: USDA Sister of Indonesia bird flu casualty also has H5N1 More Global Coverage… Email This Article | Print This Article | Reprints [-] Text [+] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children with flu who are given Tamiflu, Roche AG’s influenza pill, are 53 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than untreated children, the company reported on Friday.
And a second study showed that giving Tamiflu to very sick adults with influenza reduced their risk of death by 71 percent.
The studies, presented at the Interscience Congress on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, held in San Francisco, bolster earlier studies that show the drug can prevent the most serious consequences of influenza.
Threat of ‘superflu’ rampage as mutant viruses resist drugs
“The drive to fight deadly flu pandemics with special antiviral drugs risks creating an untreatable “superflu”, …. including bird flu and seasonal influenza, is causing- viruses to mutate into drug-resistant- forms…
former chief scientific adviser to the Government, fears that the drug will be useless if the flu virus develops resistance to it during the mass medication that would be necessary in a pandemic…
(UK)Government predictions suggested that up to 700,000 people could die in such an outbreak.. Figures from the World Health Organisation also show that approximately 0.4 per cent of adult seasonal flu cases and 5 per cent of child cases treated with Tamiflu have already developed immunity to the drug.”
I am just creating the News Summary then I will start a new thread so you might like to hold your post for about 30 minutes.
Closed to maintain Forum speed.